Wayne Bridge insists Jose Mourinho is NOT the best manager he’s played for… as the former Chelsea defender gives ex-England boss Glenn Hoddle the nod for his ‘incredible’ work at Southampton
- Wayne Bridge has thought about the managers he played under during his career
- The former England defender was coached by Jose Mourinho and Glenn Hoddle
- He has given Hoddle a nod to Mourinho in naming his best manager
Former England defender Wayne Bridge has surprisingly chosen Glenn Hoddle over Jose Mourinho in naming the best manager he ever played for.
Bridge made over 300 Premier League appearances during his 16-year professional career after initially coming through Southampton’s academy.
He went on to enjoy the most successful period of his career at Stamford Bridge, winning four major trophies, including the Premier League, under Mourinho.
But Bridge still thinks Hoddle was better than Mourinho for his personal development, and has praised the job he did at Southampton during his 14 months on the south coast.
Speak at the launch of Club house 5a new ultra-modern sports bar just off Leicester Square in London, Bridge told Mail Sport: ‘Best (manager) is a really tough one because I would have to choose between Mourinho and Glenn Hoddle in Southampton.
Wayne Bridge has claimed that Hoddle was the best manager he played for because of his ‘incredible’ work at Southampton
Bridge gave his thoughts on Jose Mourinho and Glenn Hoddle at the Clubhouse 5 launch
The new state-of-the-art sports bar has recently opened just off Leicester Square in London
“He was incredible for me, he did incredible for Southampton. I think we were sixth in the league when he left.
“He played a formation, 4-3-3, that nobody really talked about much, that’s what we played at the time. His attention to detail against the other teams, the way he got Southampton playing, was incredible.
“Like I said, he was great to me. I was probably just a little annoyed that he never brought me to Spurs because I loved playing with him! It’s very difficult because of course Mourinho comes along and he wins a lot of trophies, but for me personally I would probably say Glenn Hoddle, I think he was incredible.’
Before taking the Southampton job in January 2000, Hoddle spent two and a half years in charge of the England national team.
He led the team to the last 16 of the 1998 World Cup before they were brutally knocked out by Argentina on penalties.
Prior to his dismissal in February 1999, Hoddle looked set to build a team capable of competing for major honours, and Bridge thinks England could have ended their long wait for a trophy had he kept the lead.
Bridge won four major trophies under Mourinho at Chelsea, but still gave the nod to Hoddle
Bridge went on to call Avram Grant the worst manager he ever played under
‘It’s one of those things. If he had stayed we might have gained something because he is among the best, 100 per cent,” added Bridge.
Bridge spent most of his career representing clubs in the top half of the table, but spent the second half of the 2010/11 season on loan at struggling West Ham.
The Irons were unable to beat the drop that year with Avram Grant on the sidelines, and Bridge has revealed that he was the worst coach he played for.
Referring to Grant, Bridge said: “I just think about all the managers I’ve had, and I was relegated with West Ham and he was there – it just didn’t work. So he’s probably the worst.’
Clubhouse 5 is London’s newest and most popular premium sports bar, just off Leicester Square (5 Lisle St, London WC2H 7BF). Book your spot at Clubhouse 5 via the We Love Sport app or go to Clubhouse5.co.uk or @clubhouse5bars on Instagram.